European Breast Examination Timetable and Practical Arrangements for 2019

There will be one oral and one written exam only in 2019.

MCQ/Written Examination:

The written exam will take place on the 21st June 2019.

The deadline for receipt of applications for the written exam is the 30th April 2019.

The venue for the written exam:

The written exam will be held at a number of locations globally to increase accessibility.

The above-given table contains the list of locations and the local time at which the exam will take place. Please note that these vary and have been standardized to coincide with 11.00-13.00 hours in the UK (British Summer Time). Please check your time carefully.

Details on precise locations will be issued shortly, once candidates have been approved as eligible and their preferred choice of venue confirmed. Maps and instructions of how to reach each venue will be sent out in the first week in May. The same exam will take place online in all venues. Computers will be provided at each venue so there is no need for candidates to bring their own laptops.

The language of the exam will be in English at ALL venues.

There is a limit of the number of candidates per location and candidates are asked to specify their 1st, 2nd and 3rd choice when they apply online and will be notified of their allocated exam center in the first week of May in time to book travel. Preference will be given according to the date of application for the exam.

The Oral Examinatiion

The oral exam will take place on the 28-29th of September in Bucharest, Romania.

Candidates will be notified if they have passed the written exam and are eligible to take the oral exam within 10 days of sitting the written exam and MUST register and pay to sit the oral exam by 9th of July 2019; a proof of payment must be sent to UEMS office by the above date. There is a limit of the number of candidates for the oral exam so late applicants will be passed on to the exam of the following year. The oral exam will run over 2 days and you will need to be available for the whole of both days. Please do NOT book your travel or accommodation until you have had confirmation that you have both passed the written and been confirmed to have a place.

Standard of the Examination

The European Breast examination is designed to test whether a candidate has the appropriate level of skills and knowledge to practice as a newly appointed specialist breast surgeon in a European Country (at the completion of specialist training).

A detailed syllabus and eligibility criteria for the exam are available to download from the website on the links below.

A textbook is available that covers most issues relating to the management of breast cancer but please note that candidates must also be able to manage benign breast diseases and reconstructive issues such as implant diagnostics and management which are not covered in this text.

Candidates who have applied and paid the fee for the exam will be eligible for a 15% discount on the book and will be issued with a discount code by the UEMS office which may be used to purchase the book from the publisher’s (Springer) website.

All profits from the sale of the book go towards running and developing the European Breast Exam.

Important information, please read carefully:

The EBSQ Examination consists of two parts: Part A (written part) and Part B (oral part). A candidate has to “pass” both parts in order to be qualified for the “EBSQ in Breast Surgery” Diploma.

The “written” exam (Multiple Choice Questions) is internet based and is run simultaneously at all centers. PCs are provided by the Division (there is no need to bring your own laptop) and all candidates answer the same 50 MCQs but in a random, different order for each candidate.

The “pass mark” of the written exam is calculated each time using an international standard-setting procedure (Anghoff Scoring). Approximately a 55-60% of MCQs have to be answered correctly in order to “pass” the written exam but this will vary each year according to rigorous standard setting processes. Results are provided via email approximately within one week after the examination date. If you have not heard by 1 week, please contact the exam administrator urgently in case we have used the wrong email address.

You should arrive at the place of your examination center approximately 1 hour before the exam, bringing with you an ID with a photo for identification.

All candidates who will pass the written exam on 21st of June will be allowed to take the “oral” exam in order to successfully qualify for the EBSQ in Breast Surgery diploma. In the case of a candidate who passed the written exam on 21st of June but, for any reason, does not apply to attend the oral exam, she/he can take the oral exam which follows the next year only. If you apply for the oral exam, cancelation of your participation (for medical reasons only) may be accepted until 1 month before the exam with no financial penalty. Cancellation after this date will not be refunded.

The total fee for the exam is 700 Euros. However, if you wish, you only need at this point to transfer to UEMS account the fee of 400 Euros (150 Euros for eligibility check and 250 Euros for the written examination); you can pay the rest later (the fee for the oral exam is 300 Euros) but before 10th of July. After your application, if you are found to be not eligible, the eligibility assessment fee will not be reimbursed. Examination fees should be transferred to UEMS by PayPal only. Important: please make sure that all PayPal transfer cost has to be covered by the applicant; each time, the net fee of the exam should be credited to UEMS account on your behalf. Please clearly indicate in your transfer your full name and that the fee is for the EBSQ in Breast Surgery examination. In case you experience any difficulty with your PayPal payment you may contact the UEMS Office (office@uemssurg.org).

The number of examinees in each exam is limited. In this case, the applicants’ eligibility will be assessed on “first come - first served” basis after they complete the application steps and pay the fee. Please read the instructions carefully and submit all required documents to support your application. Please note that you should submit a UEMS Breast Surgery logbook provided via our website signed by your Supervisor / Professor / Department Head / Hospital Chief, whichever is relevant in your case. Please do not submit your hospital e-logbooks.

Please read the Instructions and the Eligibility Criteria carefully. After your application, if you are found to be not eligible, the eligibility assessment fee will not be reimbursed.

The additional requirements are as follows:

The written examination consists of 50 multiple choice questions. Each question has 5 alternative answers, with "best of five" principle. No penalty points for wrong answers. Total time allocated is 120 minutes.

Example:

Q.: Which of the following statements is NOT correct:

A. Breast cancer is worldwide the leading cause of death in women

B. The most frequent histological type of Breast Cancer is Ductal carcinoma

C. Triple-negative breast cancer is not responding to hormonal therapy

D. SLNB is "standard of care" for cN0 patients

E. Post-mastectomy radiotherapy is needed in some patients

Only those who pass the written examination, are allowed to attend the oral examination.

The oral examination The oral examination consists of three 20 - 30 min tasks. Two tasks are clinical case discussions and the third is to evaluate a clinical research paper.

- Cases: details of a clinical case (patient's history, tumor histology etc. and sometimes imaging and pictures of the clinical appearance of the patient) are given to the candidates at the time of the examination. Examiners will ask specific questions based on patient's data such as: what type of operation would you suggest and why, is radiotherapy needed in this case etc., and general questions related to issues arising from the case, such as: which are the indications for radiotherapy in patients undergoing mastectomy?

- The scientific paper is provided by email 2- 3 days before the examination. The candidates are allowed to have the paper with them during the examination. Questions are related to the purpose of the study, design, results etc.

The scientific paper will be provided by email 2- 3 days before the examination.

Each task has 10 questions scored 0-2.

The maximum score from the oral exam is 60 points and a minimum to pass is 30 points with a minimum of 10 points from each task.

- at least 10 points from each task in the oral examination

The requirements

1) Profound knowledge in breast diseases (knowing local or national guidelines is not sufficient)

Failing the written exam: New attempt in the forthcoming exams possible, fee 250 €.

Failing in the oral exam: New attempt in the forthcoming exams possible, fee 300 €.

Failing twice

Failing twice in the written exam: New attempt possible, but not earlier than 2 years after the last failure. Full 700 € fee, submission of documents regarding education and training after the last failed exam mandatory. The eligibility of the applicant will be evaluated according to the education and training after the last failed examination.

Failing twice in the oral exam after having passed the written exam. New attempt possible, but not earlier than 2 years after the last failure. The written examination has to be passed before attending the oral examination. Full 700 € fee, submission of documents regarding education and training after the last failed exam mandatory. The eligibility of the applicant will be evaluated according to the education and training after the last failed examination.

As the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) stipulates, you can ask to receive all the personal information we have about you. This request is free of charge. You can ask this to the following address: secretariat@uems.eu. It is important that your demand is signed by you personally.

You may at any time request that we correct or remove the information about you if your information proves to be incorrect or out of date.

This website uses cookies to personalise content, provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our partners who may combine it with other information that you’ve provided to them or that they’ve collected from your use of their services. You consent to our cookies if you continue to use this website.